The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17

made my ponys joints crack, but by the time we
got to the top of the next hill Jim was tho
ground and kneeling to fire.
Hes done for, partner!' cried ont again, and
in sheer desperation dashed past him and rode
right on, squarey between him and the buffalo.
l know Jim must have cuSsed me them for the
bull was within easy range, though still run
ming l went for him for all my pony was worth.
and ia two hundred yards more caught up with
hlm. As he saw me close behind him he stopped
running and fell into departing walk. Present.
ly he stopped and faced about, and then Jim
cried outs
Look out now partner! Don't 60 too close to
him or he'll make lunge and kill your horse
But his leg was broken. sue enough. and his
end was near. The bullet had broken his huns
rus in two in the middle. ranged back, and
passed completely through his lungs 1t was
amazing that any animal could make such q run
after such wound
He stood motionless for a moment or So and
eagerly studied his outlines with an eye to the
future. Presently his huge body began to sway
from side to side, and then he fell to the earth.
He was game to the finish, which was not long
in coming. for almost Immediately he fell prone
upon his side and breGthec his last He was
the finest bull killed up TO that time and the
only one killed with single shot. 1t WAS the
10th of November. justtwo months to aday from
the date of our starting from Washington to get
twenty buffalo. and this grand old fellow was
mo. 90" Do you blame me for indalging in q
few feelings of pride and congratulaton TO the
Smithsonian expedition for Buffaoi If So I will
have to take it. suppose, for it is too late now
to go behind the returns
WELL" said Jim, in a buslness-like way, sI1l
go out and stop the wagon and bring it back
here. so that can take this hide right along
now So off he went at a gallop, in true cow
boy style
1t would be hard for me to make any ono real
ize how busy we were kept how imperatively
we were hurried. ard how little spare time we
had for side-issues during the whole of that hunt
for buffalo. Up to the time 1 speak of, l
had taken hand in the SHINING of fourteen
buffalo out of our twenty, but in every instance
we had been SO hurried and pressed for time
that had actually not even one opportunity to
make such sketches and measurements of
dead bull as needed and desired. True. had
measured them all as fully circumstances
would permit, but what wanted was a good,
long hour with big buffalo while he was still
warm. Wall while Jim was fetching the wagon,
| had it at last. / made studies If the old
bull to my hearts content sketched him again
and again, and measured him until page after
page of my weworn notebook was covered
with figures and diagrams. He was a monster
even under the tape-line, and as handsome as he
was big. After we skinned him measured his
carcass over and over, SO that in building man
kin to put his skin over when it came the last
act, | could make it exact at every point Such
privileges are OF priceless value to the taxiderm-
ist who has the mounting of great beasts.
When tue wagon arrived tempted of its load
just where Jim overlook it'll we heaved the huge
skin into it, with the meat of the hump and
indquarters and started it off again as quickly
as possible. We were sorry to that it was
then o'clock. and we knew it would be almost
impossible for the load to reach camp that day.
But Brown was doing the driving. with Boyd as
pilot and general standby and We knew that
no matter what happened, they could be de-
pended upon So Jim and bore away still
further westward before swinging around toward
carnp.
The weather, by that time had undergone a
change. bitng-cold northwest wind had
sprung up. the sky had assumed n peculiar dull
and hazy appearance. and toward the north we
saw terrific snow storm coming. By its pecu.
liar streaked appearance. we saw that the
was falling heavily and as 1t swept along from
northwest to southeast we saw the very moment
almost, that it struck camp the lofty,
concal butte at the head of Porcupne creek
The sight filed our minds with dread
Were sure going TO get it now" said JIM
solemnly, as he held his hand 20 his western ear.
Its a-gOlEg to turn cold as Greenland and
there'll be snow a-plenty before this storm lets
up"
1T looks bad answered 1--WE must get to
camp before it gets too dark. may not find
it. And only look yonder! / declare if that
wagon isn't only just across Taylor creek. Those
boys are in for it this time, sure"
well" said Jim. I'VE can't do anything fur
EN- as can see They'll have to rustic and get
to camp. somehow. purity quick But they know
that we'll enough"
We pushed for camp. about twenty-five miles
away, across those awful bad grounds as fast
as our horses could go. anxious enough to get
there We rode right into the track of tho
storm into the binding snow. which was driven
furiously along by bitter cold blast from the
northwest.